Water Valley Rancher Claims Neighbor’s Dogs Killed 22 Prize Sheep

SAN ANGELO, TX — A Water Valley rancher alleges his neighbor’s dogs escaped, dug under a fence, and killed 22 specially bred sheep in early February 2023, causing approximately $39,250 in losses. 

Justin Trimble filed suit in 2023 in Tom Green County’s 391st District Court against John W. Tucker II, who leases adjoining property on Lee Pfluger’s Rust Ranch. 

Trimble claims Tucker’s three dogs—one older black Lab and two mixed-breed dogs—attacked the livestock between Feb. 1 and Feb. 4, 2023. The suit accuses Tucker of negligence and negligence per se under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 822 for failing to control the animals. 

Tucker has repeatedly denied the allegations, stating in court filings that his dogs had no history of harassing livestock, and that while they did dig under the fence, it was only to get to a dead deer, which they rolled in "and came back to the house smelling to high Heaven."

He has raised defenses, including possible contributory negligence by Trimble, trespassing by the sheep on property not owned or leased by the plaintiff, and that some or all damages resulted from a winter ice storm — an “act of God” and intervening cause. 

A pretrial hearing in the case was held Jan. 5, 2026, before Judge Jay Weatherby. No public details on any resolutions or upcoming trial date were immediately available. The case remains pending.